Grove & Hansford

In the matter of ADC 5815 of 2020, Mr Grove (the applicant father) and Ms Hansford (the respondent mother) brought their dispute concerning the children X and Y before Judge Young. The proceedings involved an application for orders regarding the time the children would spend with their father, the communication between the parents, and the appointment of an Independent Children’s Lawyer and a family consultant.

The court was required to determine the specific arrangements for the children's time with the father, including weekend and Father's Day contact, and to establish protocols for communication between the parents. Further issues included the appointment of an Independent Children’s Lawyer to represent the children's interests and the preparation of a family report by a family consultant to assist the court in determining the children's welfare and best interests. The court also needed to address the disclosure of documents, including those from the Department for Child Protection concerning any abuse allegations.

Judge Young made orders for the children to spend time with their father on specified weekends and Father's Day, with provisions for dinner and changeover locations. Communication between the parents was restricted to a communication book, with exceptions for emergencies. An Independent Children’s Lawyer was appointed pursuant to section 68L of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth), and the parties and children were ordered to attend upon a family consultant for the preparation of a family report, to be completed by 31 January 2022. The court also directed the Department for Child Protection to provide specific documents relating to any abuse allegations. The matter was adjourned for mention and subsequently for a trial call-over.